From July 19, a ban on the destruction of unsold clothing, accessories, and footwear by large companies has come into force across the European Union. The new regulation aims to combat waste and reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
Under the rules that took effect on Sunday, large companies are no longer allowed to dispose of unsold goods. They are now required to resell them or donate them to charity. Previously, destroying stock was often more cost-effective than storing, restoring, or reintroducing the products to the market.
“This ban is an important step towards a circular economy. We are ending the practice where tons of quality clothing were simply sent to landfills or incinerated,” the European Commission noted.
The ban is not absolute. Destruction of goods is still permitted in the following cases:
The items pose a risk to health or the environment;
They are heavily damaged or contaminated;
They cannot be repaired or reused.
Additionally, if goods were offered to social and charitable organizations in the EU but were not accepted within the established timeframe, companies may also dispose of them.
The new regulation applies only to large companies. Small and medium-sized businesses are not yet subject to these restrictions. The new rules are expected to affect the operations of giants such as H&M, Zara (Inditex), Adidas, Nike, and other international retailers operating in the EU market.